FEBRrARY 10, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



113 



THE BUCKLER FERNS. 



The Buckler Ferns (Lastraeas or Nephro- these by buds. 



prothalli^ and in a very short time an in- 

 definite number of typical plants arise from 



The name ne])hrodium 



diums) of Great Britain, consist of six defi- 

 nite species, viz., L. filix-mas, the Male 

 Fern ] L. dilatata, the Broad Buckler Fern ; 

 L. montana or oreopteris, the Mountain 

 or Lemon-scented Fern; L. semula, the 

 Hay-scented Fern ; L. rigida, the Lime- 

 stone Buckler Fern ; L. thelypteris, the 



Marsh Fern. 



All these derive their generic name from 

 the shape of the indusium or little cover 

 ■which protects the dot-like heaps of spores 

 on the frond backs, and are kidney 

 or buckler shaped, 

 is derived from ''nephios, 

 or Lastrsea from a French botanist, while 

 the popular name of Buckler Fern 

 xplains itself. We have termed these 

 *' definite'' species ibecause several others 

 are recognised by botanists — viz., L. 

 spinulosa, L. ulignosa, and L. cris- 

 tata. All these, however, laire con- 



T 



sidered by experts in Brtiish ferns as 

 representing merely grades or forms of L. 

 dilatata. This species varies considerably 

 in make and form of frond, and these three 

 last pseudo specicis merge so much into 

 one another, as well as into L. dilatata, that 

 their distinct specific character can hardly 



be established. 



The Common M-ale Fern (L. filix-mas), 



on the other hand, has been legitimately 

 divided by the late Mr. G. B. Wollaston 

 into three sub-species — L. f.-mas, L. pro- 

 pinqua, and L. pseudo-mas, each charac- 

 terised by constant differences in make and 

 detail, and even in deciduous or non-deci- 

 duous character, L. pseudo-mas, or the 

 Hard Male Fern, being much tougher in 

 texture, and, under protection from de- 

 stroying winds, quite evergreen ; while the 

 other two are quite deciduous. We do not, 

 however, propo-sehere to go into these minu- 

 tiae, for such they are as compared with the 

 varietal sports,'' which most of the species 

 named have yielded under wild conditions 

 in the first place, and imder culture by 

 selection in the second. 



Taking the Male Fern in all its three sub- 

 divisions as the chief contributor in this 

 direction, we will begin with L. pseudo-mas 

 cristata, found many years ago in Corn- 

 wall, which has been justly termed the 

 *'King of the Male Ferns." This belongs 

 to the evergreen section, and 'has the pecu- 

 liarity of a rising crown, while the crowns 

 ot the others grow horizontally, or nearly so. 

 The result is that in time, if the lateral off- 

 sets be removed as they appear, a trunk is 



l^^' a tree fern of bold habit, and 

 With beautifully tasselled four-feet fronds is 

 produced. 



Another of the evergreen type, and a fine 



companion to the ^^ King,'' is L. p.-m. poly- 

 dactyla AViUs. — ^ * ^ 



even than the "King," but has fewer fronds, 

 ana the tas-els,though larger, a^e flatter and 



less divide<l. Both these under slass retain 

 tneir frond 



and until, indeed, the new growtli is fairly 

 ^ell developed. WiMs' variety produces few 



u tV?"^^ ^ot assume the tree form. 

 *ne iving " 



ties-^viz., a form with narrow fronds (L. p.- 



in saucers of water. Soil peaty. For cool 

 conservatoiies a selection of the above can- 

 not be too highly recommended, and most 



The rest of the Male Fern group have of them do well in the open ground, where 



produced a considerable number of tasselled 

 and congested varieties on different lines, 

 and also some very pretty dwarf forms, 

 plain and tasselled, all of which are well 

 worth growing, 



L. dilatata, the Broad Buckler Fern, has 

 also yielded a number of crested and cris- 

 pate forms, of wlucih we may mention L. <1. 

 polydactyla ,L. d. grandiceps Barnes, L. d. 

 crispata cristata O^xroft, L. d. Howardii (a 

 curio), L. d. lepidota, finely cut, and a 

 crested form of some ; <an<l fiom tJie Azores 



a little shade and protection from strong 

 wind can be afforded. 



Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 



a kidney, that we have L. d. folioso-cristata and folioso- 



cristata and folioso-digitata, which are ex- 

 ceptionally handsome and evergreen under 

 glass. L. montana, once considered as non- 

 variable, has belied that opinion subse- 

 quently by yielding a very large number of 



distinct varieties. The best of tliCvSe are L. 



This grows much larger 



has yielded several sub-varie- 



cristata angustata), but otherwise iden- 

 xical except m size, the fronds bein^r some- 



w>ia+ 1 T ''^^^ iiuiius ifeing some 



^hat .liorior Some spores frcm the s^.nie 



T^m.TL n " 'V"^ undoubtedly prodnee<l two 



fr ni,? ta, a Inrent fronrled and 



PeSlf"' moderate size; a„<l L. p..m. 

 P«rcr;stata apospora on even prettier i 



^'ever 



'^'''^ ^ ^^'^^ oonstitution: K 



thj 



tSrw''-f * T"' '•"J"'^^-^ produees pro- 



trom Its edges. These breed other 



GLADIOLUS QUEEN MARY. 



The early-flowering gladioli, of which 

 Gladiolus Colvillei and its varieties are the 

 best known, steadily grow in favour, and 

 the colour range steathly widens. Home of 

 tlie varieties are very robust, and produce 

 tall spikes, while others are of moderate 

 heij^ht, and are more valuable for pot cul- 

 ture on this account. While under ordi- 

 nary conditions producing their flowers at 

 a comparatively ear!y period, an>'thing ap- 

 proaching severe forcing these gladioli dis- 

 like. But if they are grown in ])t)ts and 

 brought into a warm greenlioust^ when well 



m. plumosa Airey, L. m. coronnus Barnes, 



L. m. crista ta, L. m. cristato^gracile 

 Druery, L. m. grandiceps, and L. m. plenty of light and air, thei]* cultivation is 



rooted, care being taken to give them 



1 



■ -'i 



■ i 



A 



GLADIOLUS QUEEN MARY. 



distinct early-flowering variety bearing soft salmon-coloured flowers, raised by 

 Smith and Son, Caledonian Nursery, Guernsey. A.M., R.H.S., July 4, 1911 



Messrs 



Barnesi, the last a tall, erect, narrow form, 

 with the side divivsions flat like the steps of 

 a ladder. L. aeniula has yielded 

 pretty crested variety, L. sem. cristata and 

 L. thelypteris, a polydactulous form, which, 

 however, was introduced from the United 



s well into the following season, States. 



With regard to the culture of these ferns, 

 the Male ferns will grow in any good soil, 

 and thrive in ordinary garden mould. L. 

 dilatata likes abundance of leaf-mould and 

 plenty of moisture, but is by no means 

 dainty. L. montana prefers good friable 

 yellow loam with a little leaf-mould ; it can 

 stand much sunshine, but dislikes lime or 

 hard m ater, and resents drought at the 

 roots. AVhen once established in the open, 

 however, it will hold its own well, and 

 makes handsome specimens. L. semula is 

 more delicate than its near relative, L. dila- 



eeds 



followed by success, and the elegant spikes 

 are capital for conservatory decoration or 

 for cutting. A new introduction of much 

 merit is G. nanus Queen Mary, a variety 

 that attracted much attention at the great 

 exhibition heM by the Royal Horticultural 

 Society at Olympia, July 4, 5, and 6, 1911. 

 On that occasion it figured in the collection 

 from Messrs. Blarr and f^ons, Covent 

 Garden, this firm very kimlly taking charge 

 of it for Messrs. Smith aiid Son^ of the 

 Caledonian Nursery, Guernsey, by whom it 

 was raised. 'Iliose who have the pleasure 

 of knowin<2: this Guernsey firm and their 

 remarkable nursery of rare and beautiful 



believe that 

 new plant 



they 

 that 



highest 



1 



the probably unique peeuli- best in pots in a cool house. 



aritv fha+ +1 ' r-"^-'uuiy unique peculi- 

 ayer J 1 f "'"i^^"* ^ division, if 



L. thelypteris is a thorough lx)g fern, its 

 travelling root stocks revelling in quite wet 

 soil. It does well in pots or pans standing 



p ^ an ts will read i ly 

 w 0 u Id no t i nt rod uce a 

 w as othenv ise tha n of 1 1 u 

 merit. Their new gladiolus has soft salmon- 

 coloured flowers, with cream-coloured 

 blotches on the lower segments, and the 

 two colours form a most pleasing and effec- 

 tive combination. This variety gained an 

 Award of Merit at the O'.ympia show, and 

 is a valuable addition to its group. 



